Babu says only Centre can decide on Telangana!

NEW DELHI: Seeking to push the ball into the Centre’s court on separate Telangana, Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu today said he was "neutral" on the issue and that a decision on the contentious demand should be taken only by the UPA Government.

The principal opposition party in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, TDP has not yet spelled out its stand on the Telangana statehood demand, which has virtually divided almost all political parties on regional lines.

"As far as my party is concerned, we will stay neutral on the issue. We had decided this long back in our party convention. The Centre has to take a decision (on Telangana).

The decision has to come from them," he told a press conference here.

The UPA Government has been maintaining that there is no consensus on the issue and that further consultations on the matter were needed before a decision is taken.

He also alleged that the N Kiran Kumar Reddy-led Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh was "paralysed" and no development was taking place in the state for the past two years.

"There is no government. Farmers are committing suicide and declaring crop holidays. The Government is not bothered about those things…There is corruption and no action is being taken," Naidu said.

The TDP chief said the party has decided to move a no-confidence motion against the Reddy Government on the farmers’ issue during the Winter Session of the Assembly beginning December one.

"We have decided to move a motion against the Government.

As an Opposition party we know when to move. We are determined to move. But, if the Reddy Government moves and takes decisions on farmers issue, we may reconsider it. But not until then," he said in reply to queries on the issue.(PTI)